Tuesday, April 1, 2008
- NTS Connection
Revs. Devin (’06) and Aimee (’06) Mulder have been co-pastors at the Port Arthur First Church of the Nazarene since they graduated from NTS nearly two years ago. We asked them to share the impact NTS had and continues to have on their ministry situation. Devin and Aimee are pictured here with their son Ford (1).
Aside from the course work/studies themselves, what about NTS has most positively impacted your current ministry position?
The connections we made at NTS with colleagues and professors have given us quite a tool box for our ministry. Some examples we have experienced: Difficult counseling situation—we called Dr. Judi Schwanz. Need help with budgeting—we got Dr. Marty Butler on the phone. Need creative help with church board meetings—we consulted some friends (now in ministry themselves) from NTS for advice.
In every situation we encountered where we had trouble knowing what to do, we found that we knew where to go to find helpful information and/or resources. A call to ministry doesn’t mean we are an encyclopedia of theology; it’s about knowing how to connect with God’s people in daily life.
You have been involved in the NTS Early Ministry Initiative (EMI). How has that kept you connected with NTS and/or how is it helping you in your ministry position?
The EMI has been an incredible springboard of ideas where we can go and present the situations we’re dealing with. One constant issue is the balance between self/family/God and ministry. The answers given on the EMI discussion board have helped us see where we can improve on our balance. We’ve been a part of 13 funerals since we came to this church and it was good to be able to share our burden and know our friends were lifting us up. It was also great to know that having 13 funerals in an 18 month period isn’t the norm. (See page 8 in this issue for more information on the NTS Early Ministry Initiative)
As co-pastors, how has your church adapted to your unique pastoral style? How do you work together as a team?
We have been blessed to have a church which has truly embraced the co-pastor style of ministry. Just as this was a new adventure for us, it was also a new adventure for our church. We have never felt like they viewed one of us as the leader over the other. We intentionally present ourselves as a team so as to avoid any competition between the two of us. We started the practice of rotating Sunday morning preaching duties which has also been effective in helping them to see us as a team.
In regard to your current ministry position, how are the two of you learning to “build up believers?”
We constantly present ourselves with this question in order to keep ourselves continually growing in this area of ministry. When it comes to building up believers, we make it a habit to challenge our congregation to spend more time in the Word, praying, witnessing to friends and family, and to continue growing in holiness.
One of our core members came up to Devin after a bible study on forgiveness. She said, “I know you said we should pray to forget the wrongs done to us, but I don’t want to forget!” Two weeks later, she arose from an altar of prayer free from this attitude. She had gone to the altar to pray for a brother who wasn’t being forgiving. God dealt with her and her entire face was glowing with the light that only comes from surrender.
We guess that you could say “Growing in Holiness” has been our theme this last year and a half. We feel that we have seen our congregation growing in holiness, walking closer with God, and continually surrendering everything in their lives to Him. It has been an awesome adventure and we feel completely blessed to be a part of it.